On 13 March this year, Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina took over as the new Pope at Vatican. The cardinals elected Bergoglio to be the first non-European pope in the modern era. He is the first pontiff from South America, and the first Jesuit to be elected head of the Roman Catholic Church. According to Rev. Eduardo Mangiarotti, an Argentine priest, the new Pope will be called Pope Francis in honour of St. Francis of Assisi.
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| Source: pope-election-2013.com |
Born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, he was trained as a chemist before decidng to become a priest. Ordained by the Jesuits in 1969, he became co-archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1997, and in 1998 he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. After having become a cardinal in 2001, he served as president of theArgentine bishops’ conference from 2005-11.
According to media reports, as cardinal he clashed with the government of Argentine over his opposition to gay marriage and free distribution of contraceptives. As per profile by CNN Vatican analyst John Allen, he was runner-up in the 2005 papal conclave, behind then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
Known for his simpicity, Pope Francis has a reputation of being a voice for the poor. Allen quotes Francis as saying during a gathering of Latin American bishops in 2007: “We live in the most unequal part of the world, which has grown the most yet reduced misery the least. The unjust distribution of goods persists, creating a situation of social sin that cries out to heaven and limits the possibilities of a fuller life for so many of our brothers.”
Argentina’s state news agency Telam reports Francis as a fan of the San Lorenzo soccer club in Argentina, and a lover of tango.
As a Jesuit, Francis is a member of the Society of Jesus, one of the biggest and most important orders in the church. Jesuits are recognized for their exceptional educational institutions and focus on social justice.
According to Raymond Arroyo, a CNN contributor and Catholic television host, “The new Pope Francis is supposedly a reformer of sorts. He reformed the Jesuits, fighting against liberation theology when that was on the rise in Argentina.” According to broad estimates, approximately 480 million of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics live in Latin America, but no one from the region had ever been chosen as pope. By electing who they did, the cardinals sent a strong message about where the future of the church may lie.
In the words of Rev. Eduardo Mangiarotti, an Argentine priest, the new pope is a very humble man, strongly devoted person to the poorest and suffering people in his dioceses. He is a passionate preacher and a man of prayer.
Pope Francis is known as a humble man, a capable administrator and — as expected of a new pope — a man of great faith.
A CNN report citing Rev. Eduardo Mangiarotti, an Argentine priest, says: “When he preaches, he’s a man who can make the people listen to him. And not only Catholic people, I mean not only the people who belong to the church, but he’s also very known nationwide. The people in our country really know him and also look up to him — the way he addresses issues regarding social justice, education, our own identify as a nation.”
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| Source: abcnews.go.com |
In his first public Mass, Pope Francis called upon the Catholic Church on 14 March 2013 to stick to its Gospel roots and shun modern temptations, warning that it would become just another charitable group if it forgot its true mission. In a heartfelt, simple homily, the Argentinian pope laid out a clear moral path for the 1.2-billion-member Church, which is beset by scandals, intrigue and strife.
According a Reuters report, addressing cardinals in the frescoed Sistine Chapel the day after his election there, Jorge Bergoglio said the Church should be more focused on the Gospels of Jesus Christ. Speaking in Italian without notes, the new Pope said: “We can walk all we want, we can build many things, but if we don’t proclaim Jesus Christ, something is wrong. We would become a compassionate NGO and not a Church which is the bride of Christ.”
The first non-European pope in 1,300 years, Francis’s initial steps suggest he would bring a new style to the papacy, favoring humility and simplicity over pomp, grandeur and ambition among its top officials. Going by the media reports, one can hope that the new Pope will work for the peace, prosperity and stability of the world.
(FGR Bureau)
